Middle school programs

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In our district, 8th-Grade is school sponsored and 7th-Grade is "Club". Both compete in the OCC under OHSAA rules. We are often faced with not having enough players for the 8th-Grade team and will pull up 7th-graders. Last year, the 8th-grade team was full but the 7th-grade team had to pull up 6th-graders (one pitcher/catcher), a 5th-grader, AND go outside of the district to fill the roster with two other 6th-graders (one pitcher). The sad thing for 7th-grade softball (in Central Ohio anyway) is that this team finished .500 with three 6th-graders and one 5th-grader. Very proud of those girls!

 

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I'm all for giving all who are interested an opportunity to play, however, that's WAY too many. I'm guessing that pitching and catching was lacking, otherwise, that's two teams in my book.

I was involved with the 7th grade team and at first i thought so to but i will tell you that they all at one point got the chance to play.I believe keeping all the girls together instead of splitting them up was a big plus because the girls that did not have the experience got to play with the girls that did and learn from them also.All went well no problems and as a 7th grade team they were the number 1 seed in the GWOC gold bracket.I believe we were the only all 7th grade team in the conference but i could be wrong.

 

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As a High School Coach for over 25 years it does make sense to limit the Junior high to 8th grade only. Combining both 7th and 8th leads to fewer numbers coming out as Freshman. Very few if any return once they get "Cut". In the long run it makes it very difficult to have three levels of teams at the High School.

7th graders are better off just sticking with the summer team at that age. Junior High is limited to 18 games and basically practices for 3 weeks and plays for 4-5 weeks. Very short season.

When we first started junior high many years ago we offered a combined 7th/8th grade team. It took two years ans we realized that was a bad mixtake when we had only a handful trying out in 9th grade. We then went to 8th grade only and keeping 16 player's...it has worked well and gets their foot in the door to see what it is like playing for a quality program.

Now we have forgone the Frosh. level and just have a JV & Vars. team. Makes thing much more competitive and has worked well.

 

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As a High School Coach for over 25 years it does make sense to limit the Junior high to 8th grade only. Combining both 7th and 8th leads to fewer numbers coming out as Freshman. Very few if any return once they get "Cut". In the long run it makes it very difficult to have three levels of teams at the High School.

7th graders are better off just sticking with the summer team at that age. Junior High is limited to 18 games and basically practices for 3 weeks and plays for 4-5 weeks. Very short season.

When we first started junior high many years ago we offered a combined 7th/8th grade team. It took two years ans we realized that was a bad mixtake when we had only a handful trying out in 9th grade. We then went to 8th grade only and keeping 16 player's...it has worked well and gets their foot in the door to see what it is like playing for a quality program.

Now we have forgone the Frosh. level and just have a JV & Vars. team. Makes thing much more competitive and has worked well.

I think it depends on the school. If there's enough kids to field two or more teams, then I say go for it. If the school can afford to field only one team, then try to create club teams to accommodate the other kids. For schools that do not have enough 8th graders to field a team, pull from the 7th grade. If the middle school does not have a middle school team, create a club team. If a club team has to pull from the 6th graders, do it. In the first year of our middle school club team, our team had 4 or 5 sixth graders, they started, and the team was very successful. Those 4 or 5 sixth graders were varsity starters last season as freshmen and they won their conference.

Len

 

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We are a D2 school in the SWOBL. For at least the past 2 years there has been a 7th and 8th grade team. Last year the 7th graders had only 2 losses. This year year, as 8th graders, they were 18 and 0. (We had good pitching and catching) I think it's a great opportunity for rec. ball kids to get 2 years of playing time along side of slect players, seeing the game at a different speed, and seeing what hard work can accomplish. Last year as a result 2 good athletes, but very average ball players got the bug and and stepped up to select this fall. Yes they are rough around the edges, but with good coaching they make the game better. Without the 7th grade team they may have never fell in love with fastpitch. Kids grow and develop at different speeds. If we care about kids, and the game of fastpitch, why not give them as many opportunites as we can. Worst case scenario they have a great time playing with their friends. JMO

 

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I want to thank everyone who put thought into this. I appreciate it. From what I'm gathering, what we are doing, it's not far off from some programs so I guess I can cool off (my dd though won't accept it). So I guess we'll wait and see what happens.

As for me starting my own club team, not going to happen. My oldest plays HS ball and is a junior. So I would like to enjoy as many games of hers as I can since she doesn't do travel by choice.

 

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Everyone be grateful for what you have! Our district is very small and doesn't even support a JV team. Freshman complete the varsity team...

 

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My oldest plays HS ball and is a junior. So I would like to enjoy as many games of hers as I can since she doesn't do travel by choice.

Same story for me except mine is in the MS Club program. She loves the game, just not every weekend all summer with my team. Works out great cause I get to be a dad and at times heckler. Aaaaaaaabsolutely love watching.

 

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What's the best way to start a middle school program? We don't even have a feeder program in Middletown, so this could be a beneficial first step! Any ideas/ thoughts?

 

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Bloom-Carroll has a really good program. Their Jr high teams are full of kids who want to play.

 

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What's the best way to start a middle school program? We don't even have a feeder program in Middletown, so this could be a beneficial first step! Any ideas/ thoughts?

I would guess that a conversation with the HS Athletic director would be a great place to start. If you don't get any feedback from him take it to a school board meeting. You may find that it's possible to run a school sanctioned team, if the coaches are volunteers. Use hand me down JV uniforms to keep costs down. I think it's a shame that a D1 school with only 1 middle school isn't fielding a competitive fastpich team. Then again, Middletown schools have never been accused of being bright, and forward thinking...there's a reason I took my family and left the district.

 

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I'm coaching at the high school and we're wanting/trying to make an impact in the district by getting some feeder programs started! (i.e. middle school).

 

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What's the best way to start a middle school program? We don't even have a feeder program in Middletown, so this could be a beneficial first step! Any ideas/ thoughts?

Ask the HS coach, JV coach, and school staff their position on the subject. My guess is this will also be needed for baseball (a bit of a tangent but reality in some cases). If you get the coaches "wanting" to do this or see it grow thats a good start. You'll also need someone that can stick with the program for several years IMO. When Ross started their program, a retired gentleman started it with help from some travel coaches, the HS coach, and the school "knows" of the program but acknowledges them as a club team which is ok. This person is the glue for making it happen year after year. He's not the greatest coach, but, he's a great person and great organizer and has passion for this zero-pay job he has taken upon himself. So, if you have a community that can support and most importantly sustain the efforts, that is a great place to start. Having no plan beyond years 1 and 2 (your DD playing 7th and 8th grade) will surely see the program die off. Not a lot of people are free to be at the practice field at 2:30 each day nor are they willing to take on the the entire program of starting from scratch. Purchasing chalk and chalker, a drag, rakes, and having another field available is all key.... you name it could be as much a challenge as any other portion of this en devour.

 

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Our middle school has both a 7th and 8th grade team, but when they were short 8th graders, they asked 7th graders to fill in. But our junior high teams are not actually sanctioned by our school. We only have one middle school so obviously the players all attend the same school, but all fees and funding are done through our city's Parks and Rec. Dept. (For those interested in starting a junior high team, your city's Parks and Rec Dept may be a place to start.) The junior high doesn't have a field so city fields were used for practices and games.
We didn't have many schools in the area with junior high teams so away games were all parent transport (up to an hour away), the fields were not always well kept, and umpires cancelled frequently. Rightfully so, high school softball came first, so if one of their umps cancelled, they pulled ours from junior high.
Because a lot of the fields we played on were set up by coaches/parents right before the game, my dd broke her ankle sliding into home (she was safe!), when home plate had only been partially secured to the ground (missing 2 screws).
Unfortunately this put her out of commission until July of last season. It was a painful summer attending numerous tournaments watching her sit on the bench with a cast and crutches so this year (8th grade) we won't be playing junior high ball...but will try to attend games to cheer the teams on.

 

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Our middle school has recognized 7th and 8th grade baseball and softball. They started with 8th grade club teams and built interest, added 7th grade then went to school board to become official school sports. While a club team all money comes from the players families and any sponcers and travel is by parents (no school bus). I suggest keeping uniforms simple and travel to a minimum to keep cost down

 

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My dd goes to Amherst and they only do 8th grade. I don't like it but the hs coach said they do that so they don't discourage 8th graders who get beat out by 7th graders from trying out in hs. I say may the best woman win.... Lol

 

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My dd goes to Amherst and they only do 8th grade. I don't like it but the hs coach said they do that so they don't discourage 8th graders who get beat out by 7th graders from trying out in hs. I say may the best woman win.... Lol

That's what I feel we may be facing here. I'm sorry, but what does that say to the parents or the dd of the 7th grader? I'm sorry, but your dd can't play because she'll beat miss MJ, and we want her to play in HS. How do they know that MJ would want to even play in HS? How much enthused will that 7th grader be wanting to play for that HS coach? Now if the AD says, only 8th graders and that's it, I can live with that.

 

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why penalize the solid 7th graders? Shortsighted for the long term health of the school system if you ask me. KY has 6th graders playing in High School.

 

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Unfortunately that kind of thinking is frequently seen in school sports.

 

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why penalize the solid 7th graders? Shortsighted for the long term health of the school system if you ask me. KY has 6th graders playing in High School.

...and those 6th graders are driving to games!!!;&